21 November 2005

Armenian Catholicos to visit Kuwait to cement relations

Extremely delighted for the freedom of religion they have been experiencinghere, Dr Goriun Babian, head of the Armenian Prelacy of Kuwait and theArabian countries, announced yesterday the upcoming visit of Aram ICatholicos, the head of around 370 Armenian churches worldwide. The expectedvisit of the Catholicos (equivalent to the Pope of the Roman CatholicChurch) is his first pontifical trip to the country after assuming post asCatholicos in 1995.

"Part of the freedom of religion we are enjoying here is receiving thehighest authority from our church. We want to announce that on Wednesday theCatholicos will be arriving in Kuwait for a seven-day visit. The Catholicoswill be enjoying diplomatic treatment when he arrives here for a landmarkvisit," Babian stated at a press conference held at its headquarters inSalmiya.

Dr Babian is the representative of the Catholicos to Kuwait and the ArabianGulf region since 2001. He graduated from Oxford University with a doctoraldegree and has been assigned to different countries around the world torepresent the Armenian churches.

According to Babian, Aram I Catholicos is famous for many as a mentor andgreat 'bridge' to East and West relations as he has been very active inbrokering Christians and Muslim religious dialogue since 1972. TheCatholicos is set to meet several Kuwaiti officials and convene leaders ofvarious organisations here. He is also scheduled to preside over ecumenicalprayers to take place at the Holy Family Cathedral in Kuwait City.

Additionally, he is set to celebrate here along with Armenian community 10thanniversary of his enthronement. "If possible, we would also organise alecture on Christian and Muslim dialogue in one of the state universitieshere. The Catholicos expresses willingness to give lecture on that issue, soInshallah, our request will be granted."

Asked what challenges Armenian church is facing here, Babian clearly butcarefully noted, "We have unquestionable religious freedom here in Kuwaitand that it is being enjoyed by many of major religious denominations, weare very thankful and very grateful to Kuwaiti government in that aspectsbut we are also looking forward to one day, they will allow us to own apiece of land to build our churches. I am sure the government isconsidering that. We are also looking forward to raising our crosses atopour churches. I am sure the Kuwaiti government is doing all they can to helpus also on doing that."

Born in 1947 in Beirut, the Catholicos has been very active in theinter-faith dialogue since assuming position as Catholicos in 1972. Heserved in this position until 1995, and represented the church at majortheological and ecumenical conferences, assemblies and consultations.

Catholicos is also a founding member of the Oriental Orthodox-EasterOrthodox Theological Dialogue, Oriental Orthodox Reformed Dialogue and theOrthodox-Evangelical Dialogues. He is an honorary member of Pro Oriente andan honorary president of the Museum of the World Religious Foundation. He isalso instrumental in creating the standing committee of the three heads,(Coptic, Syrian and Armenian) of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in theMiddle East.

Catholicos was ordained as a celibate priest in 1968 and obtained the titleof Vartabed (Doctor of the Armenian Church) in 1970. In 1995, he was electedChatolicos (the head of the Church) by the electoral assembly of theArmenian Catholicosate of Cilicia.